Can't get a week at Disney for less than $2800, what am I doing wrong

[Sunnywho]

I'm recent to my love affair with Disney. I went in December, I'm going again in a month. However, next year's big vacation will not be Disney. Try as I might, I can't figure out how to sneak in a week for less than $2800.

We also have a $1200 flight to add to that, I refuse to drive from NY, and would rather not take a vacation at all than spend 48 hours in a car with twin 6 year olds.

I've priced out May 2014, both POR and Bonnet Creek. With Bonnet Creek, the room is only $120/night, and the rental car will be in the $300 area, plus $105 for parking. Add to that the $1200 for tickets and BAM, there I am at $2400! I don't mind cooking a little bit at Bonnet Creek, but it's not reasonable to expect $400 to feed us for the whole week if we enjoy QS and then a few sit down meals (even non-disney TS). I don't mind having breakfast at the resort, and I don't mind some easy meals, but, I don't want to cook every night.

I realize that a lot of these limitations are self imposed, for example, I like my twins to sleep in separate beds, and I would find it impossible to stay in a value with only a double bed for DH and I. Annual passes won't pay for themselves for my two week long vacations.

So, given my limitation, is this really the going rate?

Go during free dining. Get a preferred room at POR because that will get you the alligator bayou room with the extra fold-down murphy bed. Queen size bed for the parents, queen size bed for one child, murphy bed for the other. Use the bus transportation instead of renting a car.

 

[Marionnette]

Go during free dining. Get a preferred room at POR because that will get you the alligator bayou room with the extra fold-down murphy bed. Queen size bed for the parents, queen size bed for one child, murphy bed for the other. Use the bus transportation instead of renting a car.

Alligator bayou is not a booking category. The OP could request it but is not guaranteed a room there. During free dining, a lot of families of 5 will book POR to save money. They would get top priority for the AB rooms. The OP would be taking a big risk of the kids having to share a bed, which she doesn't want.

 

[CareHeartsDisney]

Alligator bayou is not a booking category. The OP could request it but is not guaranteed a room there. During free dining, a lot of families of 5 will book POR to save money. They would get top priority for the AB rooms. The OP would be taking a big risk of the kids having to share a bed, which she doesn't want.

The PP mentioned to book a preferred room at POR. Preferred rooms are in Alligator Bayou which have the murphy bed.

 

[DawnM]

What are your dates? Are you going the week of Christmas or during a peak season?